Sunday 12 June 2011

Are you a sheep?

Are you a sheep? Do you follow the mob? A photographic lemming so to speak! It seems that some photographers believe that buying the latest Photowhizzyalientshope software is going to convert their boring photograph into an artistic masterpiece.

The Shopper Whoppers spend hours following the 72 steps to produce the 'perfect portrait'. But they spent a thoughtless five minutes taking the original image. (That's ok I'll slip in the Leaning Tower of Pisa' when I get home).
If you want to be like Lucky the Egyptian Undie Sheep and survive the avalanche of software and computers - Photoshop, plug-ins, Nik Software, Alien Skin, Picasa and elements its easy - just push your chair back, pick up your camera and go take photographs.
As Michael Coyne says 'Think and Frame'
http://bit.ly/mA2ZnZ

Wednesday 8 June 2011

Does size count?

Macro! Ha! - All those macro tulip buttons on your camera are about as useful asa how-to-vote card in Afghanistan. Macro starts when the magnification is same size (1:1). Otherwise, its a close-up. Make sure your close-up or macro packs a wallop! A bee sitting on a flower is just so hum-hum.
Can you recognise this little fella? Its a joey kangaroo. The joey remains in the pouch for nine months and continues to suckle until twelve to seventeen months of age.

Wednesday 1 June 2011

Don't send me roses!

Fred spent 4 months researching what camera and lens he would buy. For another two months he read the instruction manual and couldn't understand a word. Then Fred discovered he was reading the Chinese section. Now he was ready - he marched into his garden; he faced the biggest artistic/technological challenge of his life; to photograph his favourite red rose in full bloom. How do I know all this? Because, there are at least five Fred's in every camera club and ten more at every major competition.

Ok so we know that camera sensors don't like masses of red. Besides, red is a colour vastly overdone. If it was that good women would paint their whole faces with lipstick not just their lips.

But the main problem is that you can't smell or touch Fred's rose. Fred, just give me your address and I'll come look at yourt rose.